Water hammer eliminator



May 21, 1935. w. M. GRAY 2,002,451

- WATER HAMMER ELIMINATOR Filed Jan. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 21,1935. w. M. GRAY 2,002,451

WATER HAMMER ELIMINATOR Filed Jan. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMay 21, 1935 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE WATER HAMMER, ELIMINATORWallace M. Gray, Cincinnati, Ohio Application January 21, 1935', SerialNo. 2,768

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved water hammer eliminator such as maybe connected to water mains or supply pipes in a well-known manner topreclude destructive vibration, chattering, and noise resulting fromsudden closing of a valveor valves connected with the supply pipe ormain.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form ofwaterhammer eliminator which is constructed of fewer parts than any goodhammer eliminator procurable or known at present, and which operates atleast as ef--.- f-ectively and reliably as any of themore complicated.orelaborate devices of its kind.

It is also an object of the present invention, to produce an effectiveWater hammer eliminator which is very simple and inexpensive, and whichmay be easily assembled, or adjusted in the event that servicing isrequired.

A further object of the invention isto so construct a water hammereliminator that 'extreme abuse or subjection thereof; to the hardestkind of service will not result in breakage or excessive wearing of theworking parts, the device being, moreover, fool-proof by reason of itsextreme simplicity. i The foregoing and other objects are attained bythe means described herein and. disclosed in the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. l is a view showing the improved device in vertical cross-section.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1.

While water hammer eliminators are welli known and have been in generaluse for many years, they have been improved and rendered effective; bythe successive addition of Working parts and adjustable elements, untilthe modern devices have assumed the proportions and characteristics of acomplex mechanism. Said imw proved modern devices have become bulky andexpensive, and the use therein of many and delicate parts to secure theperformance desired, has increased both the cost of manufacture'and lthe cost of maintenance. By means of a more maintained seated by reasonof the pressure of fluid of the main being imposed upon valve andplunger surfaces of unequal area. Inventi-on is not claimed in the broadidea of apply-- ing this principle, but rather in the combination ofsimplified means'hereafter referred to.

The device of this invention is adapted to be connected with a Watermain or otherfluid supply line, either at the end thereof orat an-intermediate point, or in a branch thereof, preferably at a locationadjacent to a valve for drawing fluid from the main or branch. Thefunction of the device is to vent or overflow a portion of the fluidunder pressure in the main orsupply line, so as to absorb the shock orhammer resulting from the inertia of the moving column of fluid when thevalve for drawing fluid from the main is suddenly closed. The occurrenceof oscillatory shocks or surges in the fluid line, resulting indestructive vibration and noise, is well-known to those skilled in theart wherefore it is deemed unnecessary to describe the condition indetail.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the water hammer eliminator of thepresent invention, the' character 4 indicating the body of the device inwhich are formed the fluid inlet port 5 and a discharge port or ventpassage 5. The port 5 may be placed in communication with the ventpassage 6 by means of a movable valve 1 having a seating disc 8 whichnormally rests upon a stationary annular valve seat member 9 suitablysupported by the body of the device upon an annular flange it. Thestationary seat member 9 is provided with a concentric or centeraperture l2 adapted to slidably receive the pilot spindle l3 of themovable valve 1. The elements I2 and i3 provide a guide for the valve asit moves vertically to the opened and closed positions. In theembodiment shown, the disc 8 is maintained in a fixed relationship withthe valve element 1 by means of a screw threaded connection 14 betweenthe pilot spindle and a central threaded bore of said member i, therebeing a pressure flange [5 on the spindle to engage the lower face V itof the valve disc for holding said disc in the socket or depression llofmember l; It is to be understood that various other approved means maybe employed for piloting the valve and securing the renewable disc 8 inposition.

The upper portion of the movable valve element 1 has formed thereon ashoulder [8 for supporting the lower convolution l9 of a heavycompression spring 20, which spring is kept centered upon the shoulderby means of an upwardly extending boss or stud 2|. An upper convolution22 of the spring is adapted to forcefully abut a bearing surface orabutment 23 of a piston or plunger 2A which is slidably mounted in acylinder 25 supported in fixed relation to the body of the device. Thecylinder 25 may be integral with the body, or removable as shown in Fig.l, the removal thereof being effected by withdrawing a series of boltsor other fastening devices 26 and lifting the cap or cover 2?. Thecylinder 25 is supported in axial alignment with the valve 7, its pilotshaft l3, and the secondary pilot or guide shaft 28 which extendsvertically from the boss or stud 2 l. While the piston or plunger 2% maybe of any approved design, there is disclosed herein one which has askirt or depending cylindrical wall 29, the upper face 353 of whichsupports a packing ring or cup 3! of leather, rubber or other similarmaterial designed to preclude leakage of fluid past the piston orplunger. The skirt portion 29 may be screw threaded as at 32, onto aflanged sleeve or guide piece 33, so that the packing ring or cup may beclamped between the flange 34 and the upper surface 38 :of member is. Aconcentric smooth bore 35 of the sleeve 33 is adapted to slidablyreceive the guide or post 28, whereby the plunger'or piston ismaintained in proper concentric relationship with the bore of cylinder25.

That portion of the cylinder which is above the piston or plunger, isplaced in fluid communication-with theentry port 5, by means of apassage or duct 36 and an associated passage 3?. At the location 38, thepassage 36 is in constant fluid communication with the inlet port 5, andconsequently with the main line of fluid under pressure. The passage 36has interposed therein a governor valve comprising the needle 39 and aseat therefor The seat or aperture 40 may be formed in the diaphragm orwall 4! of a cylindrical and valve cage 42 which is supported in a boreor opening 63 of the body of the device. The

valve 39 4! may be adjusted at the exposed end 62 of the needle, andlocated in the adjusted position by means of lock nuts 43 or the like topermit a slow'leakage of fluid in either direction between the top endof cylinder 25 and the inlet port 5. Provision is made also for a rapiddisplacement of water from the chamber 44 or the upper portion ofcylinder 25, to the inlet port 5, by way of a one-way valve comprisingthe series of apertures 46 in diaphragm ll, and an annular ring shapedseat member 41 which may be normally urged into closed position upon theapertures 46 by means of a compression spring or the like 48. The lowerend of said spring rests upon a suitable support or abutment e9, whilethe upper portion of the spring abuts a plate or elevator 50 whichsupports the closure element or valve member 41. From the foregoing itwill be understood that a pressure of fluid in the passage 35 may leakslowly into the chamber 44 through the valve 39-40, but not through thevalve 46-411, whereas a pressure of fluid in the chamber 44 greater thanthat in the passage 46 and port .5, will be relieved promptly andrapidly by reason of an automatic opening of valve 36-41, as well asthrough the fixed leak passage at M].

While the manner of supporting the needle ofthe governor valve may bealtered, if desired, there is illustrated an internally and externallythreaded plug 58, the external threadsof which engage a threadedaperture 5! of the cap or cover 2'1, while the internal threads 52 areengaged by the threads of the needle, some of which threads are shown at62.

I t is to be observed that only two springs are employed for the properoperation of the device, the one spring 43 functioning to yieldinglymaintain a closed condition of the one-way valve ifi4l, whereas theheavy compression spring 20 functions always to yieldingly urge thevalve member '7 and the piston or plunger 24 in opposite directions.Both of the springs used are compression springs, and neither need bemade adjustable.

A means is provided for relieving any excess pressure in the chamber 44above the piston 24-, as the piston reaches its lower limit of movementwhile the main valve 89 is closed. At said lower limit of movement, thelower end 53 of the sleeve 33 would be in substantial abutment upon thestud 28, with the spring 24] substantially fully compressed. At thisposition of the piston or plunger, the periphery or edge 54 of the cupor washer 3! will be disposed slightly below the bleeder passages 55, sothat the excess pressure in chamber 44 may be relieved and. conveyed tothe waste conduit or outlet 6, through the plurality of openings orbores 56. The circumstances under which fluid will bleed through therelief openings 55 and 56 will be explained in a subsequent paragraph.

In an explanation concerning the operation of the device, it will beassumed that the inlet port 5 is in fluid communication with the main ora branch thereof containing fluid normally under pressure. The relativepositions of the various parts will then be as illustrated, the valve 89being closed, the valve 46-41 being closed, the needle valve 39-49 beingset at a predetermined opened position, and the piston or plunger 24being partially depressed against the resistance of spring 20. With theelements in the aforesaid normal. relationship, no fluid will pass fromthe waste discharge outlet 6. In the event of a surge of water pressure,however, occasioned usually by quickly closing a valve which had beendrawing fluid from the main, an excess force will be di rected againstthe lower face it of the movable valve part 8 for opening the valve 8-9and relieving the shock or excess .pressure of fluid through the wastepassage or port 6. Upon the sudden opening of the valve 89, the spring20 will transmit theumovement of valve part 1 to the piston or plunger24 thereby to compress the fluid in chamber 44 and cause it to promptlyrelieve through the passage 37, valve 4641, passage 36 and inlet port 5.A small portion of the fluid thus relieved will pass through the needlevalve 39-4U also, but the one-way valve 46-41 is constructed to relievethe greater portion of the fluid compressed within the chamber 46. Whenthe pressures at 5 and M are thus equalized the valve 8-9 will slowlyclose at a rate dependent upon the adjustment of the needle valve whichagain permits a flow of fluid under pressure from the main, through theinlet 5 passage 36 and passage 37, whereby to slowly force the piston orplunger 24 downwardly for closing the valve 8-9 against the resistanceof spring 28. It will be observed that the upper face of the piston orplunger has a larger area than does the face N5 of valve part 'I, sothat equal pressures of fluid upon the top of the piston and that muchof the lower face l6 as is included within the internal diameter of theseat member 9, will result in a constant downward urging of the plungerand valve part 7 in obedience to a well-known law of mechanics.

. The bleeder passages 55 and 56 perform only in the event that anexcessive constant pressure endear- 1 'flciently high toresult inlo'weringo'f 'th'e pistonb'r passages and' 5fi and eitherby gravity orbya pressure of upper surface of the .plunger. "thereby'is rendered quitefree of movement in an plunger 24 to its extreme lowermost limit, at

"which the shoulder or fa'ce 53 abuts o'r 'substantially abuts themember :2 l. plunger is thus depressed or lowered to the max- Whn thepiston 01 extent of itstiavel, the bleeder ports or pa'S'S'a'ge'S55 areuncovered by reason (iffth clip *or washer '3 l traveung downw rdly to aoint passages, whereupon the 44 'willblee'd through the below such portsor fluid of the chamber be released through the wastelpipe or outletifi.The emergency pressure relief thereby provided, insures against damageto the writhing 'part's of the device "and prevents the formation ofpermanent leaks atth'e jcii'l't's andgasket's thereof.

'Attenti'onis directed particularly to the fact thatthelmain spring 20tends always to urge the valve part 7 and the plunger 24in oppositedir'e 'tions, there being no spring used to force the plunger toward thevalve. Any downward movement of the plunger is initiated or occasionedfluid upon the upward direction, so that the chamber 44 may haveipa'rtdf its fluid r'apidly and instantly relieved through the passages 31, 48and 36 upon the occurrence of successive surges of vibration in the mainor in the inlet 5. The device of this invention is found to respondpromptly and with great effectiveness for the elimination of hammering,strains and noises that result from sudden closing of a valvewithdrawing fluid from the main to which the device is connected.

It is to be understood that the number and size of valves such as 4B41to be employed, will vary according to the character of service in whichthe device is to be placed, and this is true also of the bleeder portsand passages 55 and 56. The only adjustment required is that of theneedle valve. Due to the extreme simplicity of construction, and thereduced number of parts necessary to perform the function desired, thedevice may be very inexpensively manufactured, and any pended claimswithout departing from the spirit ing for a copious r of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A water hammer eliminator comprisingin combination: a body having aninlet port for fluid under pressure and a Waste discharge port to beplaced in fluidcommunicative relationship with the inlet port, a valvenormally barring communication between said ports, a cylinder, and aplunger therein movable toward and from the valve, said cylinder havinga fluidchamber above the plunger, means constantly yieldingly urging theplunger away from the valve and tending always to reduce the capacity ofthe said fluid chamber, a by-pass providing for a restricted flow offluid from the inlet port to the fluid chamber above the plunger, andmeans provid flow of fluid in the opposite direction, upon applicationto the valve of a sudden high pressure surge of fluid in the inlet portsufficient to open the valve and move the plunger.

2. A Water hammer eliminator comprising in valve,said cylinder The"plunger 'with the inlet port, aval-ve normally barring oommanna-nonbetween said ports, a cylinden and a plunger therein movable toward andfrom the having affluid chamber above the plunger, means cons'tantlyyieldingly urging the plunger away from the valve and tending alvv'a'y's"to"r'educ'e the capacity of the said-flu,

chamber, aby-pass providing for'a restricted flow of fluid from theinlet port to the fluid chamber above the plunger, and means operativeupon filling or the fluid chamber to its full capacity,

for relieving-fluid pressure directly into the waste "discharge "port.

3. A "water hammer eliminator comprising in combination: a may having aninlet port for fluid under pressure, I a waste discharge port to bepla'ced-in fluid communicative relationship with the inletpor t, a valvenormally barring communication betweensaid ports, a cylinden and aplunger therein, both in axial alignment with said valve, saidcylinder-having formed in its side wall a 'bleeder p'o'rt normallyclosed by the plung- ;er and locatedjto connect the -wa'ste dischargeplunger when the plunger is moved to its lowerlimit of travel withportwith a chamber above the in the cylinder, asingle; heavy compressionspring freely urging the plunger away from its lower limit .of travelwithin the cylinder, while at the same time yieldingly urging the valveto the closed position, a by-pass providing for a restricted flow offluid from the inlet port to the fluid chamber above the plunger, andmeans proflow of fluid in the opposite" viding for a copious direction,uponapplication to the valve of a sudden high pressure surge of fluidinlthe inlet port suflicient to open the valve and move the plunger.

4. A water hammer eliminator comprising in combination: a body having aninlet port for fluid under pressure, a waste discharge port to be placedin fluid communicative relationship with the inlet port, a valvenormally barring communication between said ports, a cylinder, and aplunger therein, both in axial alignment with said valve, said cylinderhaving formed in its side wall a bleeder port normally closed by theplunger and located to connect the waste dis charge port with a chamberabove the plunger when the plunger is moved to its lower limit of travelwithin the cylinder, a single heavy compression spring freely urging theplunger away from its lower limit of travel within the cylinder, whileat the same time yieldingly urging the valve to the closed position, aby-pass providing for a restricted flow of fluid from the inlet port tothe fluid chamber above the plunger, said means comprising a singlecompression spring, an apertured diaphragm, and means urged by thespring for maintaining the diaphragm aperture closed upon movement offluid from the inlet port to the plunger chamber.

5. A water hammer eliminator comprising in combination: a body having aninlet port for fluid under pressure, a waste discharge port disposedsubstantially at right angles to the inlet port to be placed in fluidcommunicative relationship with the inlet port, a reciprocable discvalve normally barring communication between said ports, a stem carriedby said valve and extended in opposite directions axially of the valve,a guide for one extension of the stem, a single cylinder having an upperportion providing a fluid chamber, a single plunger in said cylinder,the

cylinder having formed in its side wall a bleeder port normally closedby the plunger and located to connect the fluid chamber of the cylinderwith the waste discharge port when the plunger is moved to a lower limitof travel within the cylinder, a sleeve having a'closed top and carriedby the plunger concen rically therewith, the other extension of the stembeing reciprocably received in the sleeve, said sleeve providing also astop for limiting movement of the plunger toward the valve; acompression spring freely urging the plunger away from its lower limitof travel to maintain the bleeder port closed while at the same timeyieldingly urging the valve to the closed position, a by-pass providingfor a restricted flow of fluid from the inlet port to the fluid chamberabove the plunger, and means providing for a copious flow of fluid inthe opposite direction, upon application to the valve of a sudden highpressure surge of fluid in the inlet port sufficient to open the valveand move the plunger.

6. A water hammer eliminator comprising in combination: a body having aninlet port for fluid under pressure, a waste discharge port disposedsubstantially at right angles to the inlet port to be placed in fluidcommunicative relationship with the inlet port, a reciprocable discvalve normally barring communication between said ports, a stem carriedby said valve and extended inopposite directions axially of the valve,a-guide for one extension of the stem, a single cylinder having an upperportion providing a fluid chamber, a single plunger in said cylinder,

.the cylinder having formed in its side Wall a bleeder port normallyclosed by the plunger and located to connect the fluid chamber of thecylinder with the Waste discharge port when the plunger is moved to alower limit of travel within the cylinder, a. sleeve having a closed topand carried by the plunger concentrically therewith, the other extensionof the stem being reciprocably received in the sleeve, said sleeveproviding also a stop for limiting movement of the plunger toward thevalve, a compression spring freely urging the plunger away from itslower limit of travel to maintain the bleeder port closed while at thesame time yieldingly urging the valve to the closed position, a by-passproviding for a restricted flow of fluid from the inlet port to thefluid chamber above the plunger, and means providing for a copious flowoi fluid in the opposite direction, upon application to thevalve of asudden high pressure surge of fiuid in the inlet port sufficient to openthe valve and move the plunger, said plunger being movable freely in thedirection f the fluid chamber against only the fluid resistance of thechamber.

WALLACE M. GRAY.

